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The Wairarapa Moana Wetlands project

13 Jul 2012

The Wairarapa Moana Wetlands Project began in 2008 to
enhance the native ecology, recreation and cultural opportunities on the public land in the area. The project
partners are Greater Wellington, Department of Conservation, Rangitane o Wairarapa, Kahungunu ki
Wairarapa, local hapu and South Wairarapa District Council. They in turn are working with community groups, farmers
and environmental and recreational groups to restore our wetland treasure. Everyone recognises you can’t
succeed in a project this size without all interested parties being involved.

The project got a major shot in the arm with a successful
bid for funding from the Government’s Fresh Start for Freshwater Clean Up Fund to improve the
water quality of the edge wetlands. The Ministry for the Environment will contribute $1 million over the next
three years. This funding will be matched by the following funding partners in cash or in kind – Ducks Unlimited,
Dairy NZ, Department of Conservation and Greater Wellington Regional Council. The priority for the fresh start project is to enhance
the wetland habitat around the edge of Lake Wairarapa and Lake Onoke

Groundtruth
have been working with the Wairarapa Moana group from the early stages of the
fresh start project, Our current focus is working with landowners around the
Wairarapa Moana area. Working with
farmers to complete walk over farm assessments. Learning from existing farm
management approaches, identifying opportunities to improve nutrient management
and enhance biodiversity values on individual properties. The aim is to restore the quality of
freshwater ecosystems associated with the edge wetlands. This has to be a collaborative approach with agencies and others working on the wetland reserve areas and adjacent
farmers ensuring the best possible water quality enters the wetlands, and that
their land contributes to wider habitat values. Collaborative learning is a very important part of the project and Groundtruth are assisting with tech transfer programmes around this project. So we all better understand how to manage
this complex and modified ecosystem – and can work together to maintain and
enhance its values.